Bill Start

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

HR 37, as amended, Wieckowski.

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Bill Text

WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) 558 U.S. 310 upset longstanding precedent limiting the political influence of corporations; corporations and unions; and

WHEREAS, Aggregate contribution limits restrict the total amount of money a donor may contribute to all federal candidates and other political committees in an election cycle; and

WHEREAS, In holding that aggregate contribution limits are invalid under the First Amendment, McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission creates a legal loophole that allows an individual donor to contribute millions of dollars to political parties and individual candidates; and

WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court has long recognized that campaign finance laws are necessary not only to eliminate quid pro quo corruption in elections by preventing the direct exchange of money for official action, but also to curtail undue influence by wealthy donors; and

WHEREAS, The democratic process depends on unfettered communication between the people and their elected representatives so that the government may act in response to prevailing public opinion; and

WHEREAS, Campaign finance laws that allow limitless contributions subvert this political process by enabling the voices of the few to override the collective voice of the many; and

WHEREAS, Removing aggregate contribution limits also engenders an appearance of corruption that undermines the public’s faith in its government; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly respectfully disagrees with the majority opinion and decision of the United States Supreme Court in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission; and be it further

Resolved, That the Assembly calls upon the United States Congress to restore constitutional rights and fair elections to all people, not merely to those who can afford it; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.